Welcome to PawMaw blogs!

How to Keep a Dog from Escaping the Yard

Is your dog in the habit of pulling a
disappearing act? He could be in the yard one minute, and then running loose on
the street, the next. How to stop a dog from jumping a fenceis indeed a valid concern for many pet
owners. When unsupervised, dogs who escape are easily vulnerable to certain
dangers such as road accidents, getting in a fight with other dogs, hurting
people, causing property damage, or being picked up by animal control. If your
free-spirited canine buddy is making you worry, you can take steps to bolster
up security around the perimeter and at the same time, make sure that your dog
is satisfied or distracted enough to not feel the urge to venture out into the
world on his own.

Reasons Why Dogs Escape and What to Do

To know how to stop a dog from jumping over
the fence, you must first understand the reasons behind why dogs try to escape
for you to be able to decide what measures would be most effective in your
situation. The most common reasons are:

1.Frustration/
Boredom

Dogs who escape may
simply be looking for something interesting to do because they’re often left
alone at home. Puppies and younger dogs, especially need to be constantly
stimulated as they are constantly looking for ways to spend loads of pent-up
energy. Some dog breeds are also more active than others. If you own a dog from
a sporting or herding breed, he may be climbing up or going under the fence
from time to time in search of a playmate.

What
to do: If you’re wondering how to stop a dog from
jumping a fence, particularly a bored or frustrated pet dog, you may want to spend more
time playing with him and giving him more opportunities to exercise mentally
and physically. Keep your dog entertained indoors by providing him with
toys, teaching him new tricks, and playing new games with him.

2.Separation Anxiety

Pets
may suffer from separation anxiety if there have been major changes in their
routine or surroundings. For example, moving to a new house, losing a family
member, or a change in your work schedule can make your dog feel unsettled.
You’d know that your fluffy buddy is suffering from separation anxiety if he
displays anxious or wild behavior as you prepare to leave, and try to escape just as you’re
leaving the house or shortly after. Dogs with separation anxiety won’t venture
out too far after escaping, but would remain close to the premises after
escaping.

What to do:How
to stop a dog from climbing a fence due to separation anxiety? Dealing with the problem of separation anxiety
in dogs would require some behaviour training. You’d have to commit some time to apply some
desensitization and counter-conditioning to help your pet get over his anxiety.
Know how to spot anxiety symptoms among dogs and how to deal with
them.

3.Fears/ Phobias

Dogs
may suddenly escape and disappear out of sight if exposed to sounds that
frighten them. There have been many cases of dogs having gone missing during
celebrations where fireworks are set off.

What to do: How to stop your dog from jumping the fence when he’s suffering from a
phobia? You’d have to make it a priority to provide him with a safe space if
you’re aware of his fear of loud noises. Do what you can to mute loud noises by
keeping windows closed or keeping him in a soundproof room. Read more tips on how to keep your dog calm and safe
from fireworks.

4.Mating
Instincts

At
around six months old, male dogs may have already developed a sex drive and
would tend to actively venture out to seek a female partner. How to stop a dog from jumping the
fence if they’re motivated by their mating instincts?

What
to do: How to stop a dog from jumping over a fence
if he wants to look for a mate? The simplest solution would be to have your dog
neutered or spayed by the vet. Neutering is known to decrease sexual roaming by
up to 90%. Apart from this, dogs that have been neutered also live longer and are less
likely prone to certain diseases like cancer. If your dog is neutered, you also
avoid contributing occurrences of more street animals being born.

If
companionship is what your dog is after, another remedy you may want to try is
to have your dog socialize more—with other animals or people. If it’s viable,
you can get him a companion dog. At the very least, set play dates with your neighbour’s
pets or take him to dog parks.

More Dog Jumping Fence Solutions

Exercise, behaviour training, socialization,
and providing toys and distractions to keep your dog busy are the basic ways on
how to get a dog to stop jumping the fence.

If at any point in the day you have to leave
your dog alone, the sure way on how to prevent a dog from jumping a fence is to
keep him
inside the house. If you’re going to be gone for a longer period of time, you
may consider leaving him in a doggie day-care or have a pet sitter take him for
regular walks.

Of
course, it would make sense to provide deterrents to prevent escapes, if your
pet proves to be relentless. Here are some tips you can apply:

·Extend your fence with a lean-in or L-footer section

·Clear the yard of any objects that your dog may use as a
climbing aid

·Mount coyote rollers

·Plant scrubs that make it harder for dogs to climb.
Interesting plant scents may also be effective in making your dog want to stay in the yard.

·Block or limit your dog’s view of the outside

·Install an airlock or a double gate

·Build an obstacle course on your yard

Of course, the most effective way on how to
stop my dog from jumping the fence is to never let your dog go outside unsupervised,
especially if he’s previously shown his talents as an escape artist. If you
feel it’s necessary, a GPS tracking collar would also help give you some peace
of mind.